Travel Safety in Nigeria

There are are a number of security concerns in Nigeria. In major cities such as Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt and Kano, both petty and violent crime poses a serious risk to travellers. No area of Nigeria is crime-free and criminals have targeted foreign travellers even in well-guarded commercial and residential areas. Kidnapping is a risk in the country, and both short-term and long-term visitors have been targeted in the past. Most kidnappings are perpetrated by criminal groups; however, Islamist militants have also targeted foreign nationals in the country’s northern states. Terrorism is a concern in large parts of Nigeria. The primary threat stems from the Boko Haram and ISWAP militant groups, which mainly operate in northern states. However, these groups have conducted terrorist attacks outside of these regions, including in Abuja. A secondary terrorist threat stems from secessionist entities in the south-eastern states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo. Attacks by these groups generally target state-aligned administrative and security facilities. There is an ongoing conflict between the Nigerian government and Islamist militants in north-eastern states, while the state has also escalated counterinsurgency operations against armed bandit groups in states such as Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara. Communal conflict, usually linked to disputes over land and cattle, is a concern in rural areas across most parts of Nigeria. Demonstrations are a near-daily occurrence in Nigeria, but Lagos is not as affected as elsewhere. Adequate private medical facilities are available in most major cities, but services are very limited elsewhere.